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influencerSpotted November 2022

Influencer Emkwan spotted wearing a Rolex

influencer Emkwan spotted wearing a Rolex 116710BLNR
Who & what: Rolex GMT-Master II Stainless Steel 'Batman' Ref. 116710BLNR – Emkwan Spotted

Dubai and Abu Dhabi-based watch content creator Emkwan, recognised by Esquire Magazine as a Digital Influencer, was caught on camera wearing one of Rolex's most talked-about sports references: the GMT-Master II in stainless steel, reference 116710BLNR. For a watch journalist working this beat, there are few wrist sightings that generate as much immediate recognition among informed audiences.

Rolex introduced the 116710BLNR at Baselworld 2013, and it represented a genuine technical milestone for the manufacture. The bi-colour Cerachrom bezel insert — fired in ceramic and featuring a black segment for the PM hours and blue for the AM — was the first of its kind from Rolex, demanding an entirely new production process to achieve two distinct colours within a single ceramic piece. Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 3186, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring offering improved resistance to magnetic fields and shocks. It delivers a 48-hour power reserve, operates at 28,800 vph, and carries Rolex's Superlative Chronometer certification, meaning it is accurate to +2/-2 seconds per day after casing.

The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel sits on either an Oyster or the later-added Jubilee bracelet variant, water-resistant to 100 metres. The GMT hand allows independent tracking of a second time zone — a function with genuine utility for a creator like Emkwan, who regularly communicates with watch brands, collectors, and audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

From a collector standpoint, the 116710BLNR occupies rare territory: a reference discontinued in 2019 when Rolex introduced the upgraded 126710BLNR with the Calibre 3285, yet still commanding significant premiums precisely because of that discontinuation. The 'Batman' has a loyal following that rivals even the 'Pepsi' GMT in collector passion, partly because the all-ceramic bezel felt like a sharper, more modern aesthetic statement.

For an influencer whose entire platform centres on watch culture, wearing the 116710BLNR is a credible, knowledgeable choice rather than a status symbol selection. Retail in the UK was listed at £6,550 during its production run. On today's grey market, examples in good condition with box and papers continue to trade well above that figure, reflecting persistent demand from collectors who missed it the first time.

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